North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Towards Sea Of Japan, Seoul Says

North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles towards the Sea of Japan on Monday, prompting South Korea and Japan to assess the launches and monitor potential security risks.

South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Pyongyang launched the missiles around 9:20 AM local time. Some projectiles travelled more than 900 kilometres, Japan’s Kyodo News reported.

Japanese parliamentary vice defence minister Takashi Koyari said Tokyo had lodged a diplomatic protest with North Korea. He condemned the launches for violating relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“We are analysing details, including whether it flew on an irregular trajectory,” Koyari said. He added that the second missile likely reached an altitude of 70 kilometres and travelled more than 910 kilometres. Japan said two missiles likely landed outside its exclusive economic zone.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi instructed government agencies to gather and assess information. She directed officials to communicate findings to the public promptly and accurately. She also stressed the need to ensure safe navigation in the country’s maritime and airspace areas, Kyodo News reported.

North Korea’s latest launch follows another ballistic missile test on October 3. South Korea’s military detected the launch near Wonsan at approximately 6:30 AM local time, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The JCS said the missile travelled more than 700 kilometres before landing at sea. South Korean authorities coordinated with the United States to assess the weapon’s type and flight details.

South Korean and US intelligence agencies tracked the October 3 launch from its early stages and exchanged relevant information.

“Our military is closely monitoring various movements by the North under a robust South Korea-US combined defence posture and maintaining the capability and readiness to respond decisively to any provocations,” the JCS said.

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